Mammoet Salvage has been contracted to salvage 70 shipwrecks in Nouadhibou Bay, Mauretania. The European Union has made 28,8 million euros available for removing the wrecks. The salvage operation will start in April 2011 and will run for 22 months.
The company was selected from 12 international salvage companies on the basis of the solution offered and the company’s expertise in salvage and environmental protection. 25 people and a range of equipment are committed to the job.
Graveyard for Ships
Nouadhibou Bay (average water depth 10 meters) is a busy area used by industrial shipping and fishing vessels. The shipwrecks, ranging from 200 to 1,200 tons, form obstacles and hazards. Due to the wrecks, shipping has dropped off greatly in recent years, with an adverse economic and social impact. Furthermore, the shipwrecks pose a hazard to the environment and their surroundings (physical and chemical contamination). The wrecks contain oil residues, insulation, asbestos, etc.
